Some are included within a European map that is growing in its greatest freedom, thanks to the fact that this is a market where most of the brands want to put their heads in the territory of the old continent. Thus, it is not new to observe how countries like Germany, Italy or France see in Spain a great commercial attention when it comes to these electric car fairs.
that’s how they were born
Numbers say everything. automotive represents 11% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 9% of the Spanish workforce: two million jobs supported by the value chain generated by this industry. We have to go back to the 19th century to find the first antecedent of what the future would hold for the development of the automobile in Spain.
In 1889, the textile entrepreneur Francesc Bonet patented and manufactured a tricycle in Barcelona for his personal use. It was inspired by Göttlieb Daimler’s quadricycle and is considered to be the first motor vehicle manufactured in Spain. Shortly after, and already with a commercial vision, other pioneers would follow. What Emilio de la Cuadraa Valencian military man and businessman who founded the first automobile factory in 1895, also in the Catalan capital.
The interesting thing is that, paradox of history, it was dedicated at the beginning to precisely produce electric cars. It was the same de la Cuadra who did to inaugurate the first fairs and presentations of the motor in Spain. For this reason, it is very important to explain how this type of fair for the automobile was born, also for the electrified one in our country, although with the outbreak of the Civil War everything was left in the background, which caused activity to stop in its tracks.
The importance of car shows in the 20th century
But let’s go back in time a bit. We are located in May 1907, the year in which the doors of the Palace of Fine Arts (on Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid) were opened for what is known today as the ‘First International Automobile Exhibition’. It was quite successful both in terms of attendance by the public and by brands, and it had significant international support from automobile clubs in France, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the United States.
To get an idea of the importance of the automobile in Spain at the beginning of the 20th century, in these years no less than three Spanish car brands were presented: Iberia, Catalonia and Hispanic Switzerland. As a curiosity, the full name of the Catalonia brand was Catalonia SEAT. SEAT? Yes, but not the firm that we know today, nothing further.
This was about Catalonia, who produced cars for the then Rebour, a French brand. Its full name was ‘Sociedad Española de Automoviles y Transportes’. Its success gave an important protagonism to the rest of the cities who were already trying to place themselves in the middle of this attention. So much so that from the years 1920 to 1936 (months before the outbreak of the War) the sale of vehicles occupied a formidable place for the Spanish economy.
Subsequently, and after the hardest years of the post-war period, Spain immediately became clear that the engine that had driven the dictatorship during the previous four decades had run out of gasoline and was already plagued by old cars. That is when, in favor of what are today the electrified vehicles, our country decided to have different automobile fairs, among them the most well-known of Barcelona or Madridwhich managed to be authentic protagonists in the 70’s along with those of Munich or Paris.
As they are
From then on, the automotive sector experienced convulsive times such as the great oil crisis of 1973, just at the moment when Spain was beginning to experience the greatest growth in the European economy. And, in part, it was because of the automobile sector, where the French arrived from Citroen and Renaultbut also the German ones Mercedes and BMW.
This fact made, at that time, because the path of this type of battery-powered vehicles was already in sight. In fact, in countries like Germany or France, the first renovated electric cars, although obviously his impulse would take time to arrive. In any case, some automobile shows already showed how some car fairs were positioning themselves with electric cars. It was difficult for Spain to arrive, but as it happened to practically all the European territories.
Putting ourselves in a situation, this type of exhibition, among which are the current and modern electrified vehicles, are made to look like large rooms (the one in Barcelona is given as the Great Spanish Hall), which They usually last several days. It is in them where we find the majority of brands or companies in the world of four wheels in the same space.
This allows us to see the entire offer in a very short time and without having to move from one dealer to another. In this way we can find the different brands and obtain all the necessary information first-hand. At the same time, in this type of exhibition, dealers, brands and automotive companies such as renting or leasing offer exclusive discounts for those specific dates. The prices are competitive and we will hardly find these offers at another time.
Advantages and main locations
In addition to companies specialized in the motor world, these are given with various advantages for our choice. For example, we will find sectors such as financial information to be able to buy a car and pay for it comfortably and adapting to the needs.
Other sectors that we usually find at a car fair are insurance companies specialized in the sector. In the same way as dealers, insurance companies also offer special offers during the days that the event is celebrated.
In the same way that we can buy a car, in this type of fair we can find other types of companies that offer us alternatives to buying. More and more renting or leasing companies are attending these car fairs to make themselves known and offer their services to companies and individuals. Thus, if we take a walk through one of these events, we will find more than one stand of companies that offer a medium or long-term rental service for vehicles, both for companies and individuals.
Staged, and despite the still lack of user participation in these vehicles, there are certain urban exhibitors in the cities, while the Motor Shows themselves today hold exhibitions of this type of vehicle in their galas. These, for the most part, save several specific models of this category that are added to the hybrid or traditional combustion. These are the main and the most important.
VEM Madrid
Madrid has several vehicle exhibitions, but only one of them is totally directed towards the electrified. Specifically, this is about the ‘VEM Madrid’, which has become a essential event for the people of Madrid.
Everything, in addition, thanks to the fact that it is one of the best proposals by the regional government of the Moves aid plan, as well as the announcements of the Madrid city council with new proposals for promote electric mobility in the capital.
With the presence of more than 50 exhibitors, this urban fair that has been organized since 2015 in the Plaza de Colón in Madrid, the Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility, AEDIVE, together with the Madrid City Council and with the collaboration of the regional government, has a single objective. And it is that citizens can test all kinds of electric vehicles of two and four wheels that can be purchased today in the market and learn about recharging infrastructures and value-added services in electric mobility.
Parallel to the VEM, the capital also has the Madrid Hall, who has sought to reinvent himself, but has not quite succeeded with the approach that will once again make him one of the greats. He tried it as an ecological vehicle fair, but, perhaps due to anticipating too much, it did not catch on with the public nor did he have the tenacity to maintain that line.
ECOMOV Valencia
Along with the one in Madrid, we can say that the ECOMOV in Valencia is one of the most important electric car fairs in our country. The event has been taking place for several years, in both digital and face-to-face format. They do so by focusing on a wide digital exposure of all the models of the participating brands.
As the information in this exhibition reveals, each model has its own tab with the data to decide the purchase: type of technology, label, price; autonomy… even the aid to which you can opt.
At the same time, it is worth mentioning that the Valencia ECOMOV is the only event of its kind in Spain where all cars with labels participate. Zero and ECO of the DGT, without technological discrimination. They consider that technologies that have one or another label help reduce emissions.
Barcelona FAM
Although it is not one of those exclusively electric car fairs as such, the FAM in Barcelona is a presentation that is one of the longest that we can have in Spain. It is often held in the month of May at the Montjuïc site, an event that already has 100 years of history behind their backs.
It is the perfect fair for motor and technology lovers, which presents the new trends in the future of cars. There motor lovers will discover everything about safety and its importance in driving and in the systems and features that vehicles include.
It is a perfect example to get up to date with the latest technology in extras such as warning through proximity sensors, special braking systems… Likewise, professionals in the sector will teach us how to react to extreme and complicated situations. And as in any other car fair, users will be able to test the vehicles in which you may be interested.
Madrid Auto
The call for Madrid Auto is made repeatedly in the month of May at the Madrid Fair IFEMA. Like the Valencia ECOMOV seen before, it has a second appointment in June for the Used Vehicle Show. The same, without focusing exclusively as part of the electric car fairsit does have several sectors: automobiles, audio-electronics-telephony, fuels and lubricants, tires, tuning, insurance companies, associations…
As in the rest of the fairs, the greatest advantage is having a concentrated all possible commercial information at a single point. Personalized advice is received and it is very easy to test the car. It is also a good way to compare some brands with others. There is also the great advantage of direct sales and being able to acquire and take your car directly from the fair in hand.
Among the outstanding activities we can find car and motorcycle rally simulators in an off-road circuit, advice from driving course instructors, an advisory service and a personal shopper to choose your vehicle, test zones…